A day at home, celebrating oldest daughter's birthday. Presents, cake, quietness. All restful.
* * *
Funny how the Lord puts things in front of you in a timely manner. I got a copy of Sue Bender's second book Everyday Sacred (love that title) at the library bookstore recently and cracked it open last night. Just what I needed. Funny too, since I didn't take to her first book Plain and Simple. Here are some quotes:
"These incomplete tasks weigh on me---my mind often focuses on what I'm not getting done rather than on what I am doing."
"He has a quality I've read about in books but have rarely experienced---'a still point in the midst of activity.'"
"...not paying attention to what my body needed."
"We all need a certain amount of fallow time."
"How quickly calm disappears."
* * *
I've been too busy lately. With ordinary life. Not adding anything to my to-do list, but
just not setting limitations on what's reasonable. I look SO tired. Still dealing with my taxed adrenal glands. Say what you will, folks who don't believe it's a real ailment. I'm here to tell you otherwise.
We all could do with some rest. Deep rest.
I had a brief, very brief few minutes this afternoon of feeling totally aware. You know those times you feel in the zone, focused and into whatever you're doing. It's relaxing in some odd way. All I was doing was cutting up the cooked chicken to put back in our dinner pot. The flash of feeling totally attuned to my task was wonderful, but as soon as it was there, it was gone. Very elusive. I partly blame interruptions. Remembered I had to pay one of my mom's bills over the phone that I'd forgotten to do earlier. Whoosh. Peace of mind out the window.
It's all about being attentive. Attention completely on whatever's going on, not allowing anything to break the peace. Wonderful when it happens, but it's sort of like aligning the planets. Rarely occurs.
Must practice it some more.
(listening to Home at Last by Josh Garrels)
(listening to Home at Last by Josh Garrels)
